Vitamin D Supplementation and Acute Respiratory Infection in Older Long-Term Care Residents

Vitamin D Supplementation and Acute Respiratory Infection in Older Long-Term Care Residents

This study will test the role of high dose vitamin D supplementation in prevention of acute respiratory infection in older nursing home residents. The investigators hypothesize that residents on high dose vitamin D supplementation will have a lower incidence of acute respiratory infection that those on standard dose vitamin D supplementation.

This study is a double-blinded, parallel group, randomized controlled phase II trial of oral high vs. standard dose vitamin D3 supplementation administered monthly for 12 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 60+ years
• Resides in nursing home

Exclusion Criteria:

• Terminal illness (expected survival <6 months)
• Anticipated discharge within 12 months
• Unable to take whole or crushed tablets
• Active cancer, except squamous/basal cell carcinoma
• Severe malnutrition (body mass index <18 kg/m2)
• Current immunosuppressive medications (including corticosteroids)
• Renal failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 15 mL/min/1.73m2)
• Currently taking >1,000 IU/d vitamin D supplementation
• History (or strong family history) of kidney stones
• History of sarcoidosis or other granulomatous disorders associated with hypercalcemia
• Elevated baseline hypercalcemia (albumin-adjusted serum calcium >10.5 mg/dL)
• Baseline serum 25OHD level ≥ 100 nmol/L
• Inability to provide informed consent and no available healthcare legally authorized representative
• Inability of participant or legally authorized representative to speak/understand English